What is Startup Weekend?

Startup Weekend is a global network of passionate leaders and entrepreneurs on a mission to inspire, educate, and empower individuals, teams and communities. Come share ideas, form teams, and launch startups.

Startup Weekend is a global grassroots movement of active and empowered entrepreneurs who are learning the basics of founding startups and launching successful ventures. It is the largest community of passionate entrepreneurs with over 400 past events in 100 countries around the world in 2011.

The non-profit organization is headquartered in Seattle, Washington but Startup Weekend organizers and facilitators can be found in over 200 cities around the world. From Mongolia to South Africa to London to Brazil, people around the globe are coming together for weekend long workshops to pitch ideas, form teams, and start companies.

All Startup Weekend events follow the same basic model: anyone is welcome to pitch their startup idea and receive feedback from their peers. Teams organically form around the top ideas (as determined by popular vote) and then it’s a 54 hour frenzy of business model creation, coding, designing, and market validation. The weekends culminate with presentations in front of local entrepreneurial leaders with another opportunity for critical feedback.

Whether entrepreneurs found companies, find a cofounder, meet someone new, or learn a skill far outside their usual 9-to-5, everyone is guaranteed to leave the event better prepared to navigate the chaotic but fun world of startups. If you want to put yourself in the shoes of an entrepreneur, register now for the best weekend of your life!

Carolyne Braid

Carolyne Braid is a dynamic and thriving Winnipeg entrepreneur who currently owns her own female-centric pole fitness/dancing company called Dancing Diva Parties. (You may want to re- read that last sentence and note the word “fitness” lest you come away thinking this is a completely different type of event.

In addition to her work building and expanding Dancing Diva Parties, Carolyne also blogs for an international pole fitness magazine, is a community reporter for Sou'wester, and is a weekly guest on a CJOB Entertainment Panel with Richard Cloutier.

Carolyne’s story will inspire and enlighten but here’s the real plot twist in this entrepreneur story. Carolyne will be sharing her real world experience making a pitch in one of Canada’s most public and scrutinized venture capital forums, CBC’s Dragon’s Den (watch Carolyne’s appearance on youtube). But her insights don't stop there - she has developed some keen and valuable insights on how to PREPARE and DELIVER and LEVERAGE a confident and concise business pitch. In other words, this event offers a mentorship opportunity on how to make a business “pitch” from someone who’s been there, done that.

Keith Bilous

President and CEO of ICUC

Keith Bilous is the President and CEO of ICUC, an iProspect company, the global leader in content and community moderation. His team of multi-lingual experts manage, monitor and moderate millions of conversations, comments, photographs and videos for some of the largest companies in the world. Keith's reputation and continued commitment to building partnerships, leading innovation, achievement and growth is unequaled and has positioned both himself and ICUC as leaders in the social media industry.

Marshall Ring

CEO of Biomedical Commercialization Canada Inc (BCC)

Marshall Ring is a technology inventor, entrepreneur, investor and executive. My passion for early-stage technology commercialization emerged more than a decade ago. I remember attending a presentation about a phenomenal new technology idea when I was not yet committed to a specific career path. At the end of the meeting everyone was telling the presenter – who was the technical innovator - about the obstacles that would hamper the company: “You don’t have enough management depth

Martin Cash

Martin Cash is a long-time business reporter and columnist at the Winnipeg Free Press. He has been a National Newspaper Awards finalist and a past winner of a Canadian Farm Writers Federation award. He studied journalism at Ryerson University and received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Toronto.

Kathy Knight

Kathy Knight believes that there's no better or rewarding job than being
an evangelist for Manitoba's tech community. As early as 1998, she started the province's first-ever post secondary education programs in gaming, digital animation and new media. She has run businesses, organizations and fund development programs for the past 25 years. Today, through her role as CEO of ICTAM, she builds connections for our entrepreneurs at home and across the country that will help to grow Manitoba's tech sector.

Scott MacAulay

Scott MacAulay, BA, BComm, MComm, is an instructor at the Roblin Centre of Red River College (Exchange District Campus), and the Course Leader for the Entrepreneurship Practicum (EP). Every year 400 RRC students are introduced to entrepreneurship and innovation by taking the capstone EP course. Apart from teaching finance and entrepreneurship, Scott is working towards making Manitoba’s economy more vibrant by connecting innovative people together.

Perry Freiling

Although Perry Freiling’s main career has been in the Information Technology industry, his entrepreneurial drive has taken him into several other creative business ventures. With 28+ years experience in most major I.T. roles, his strengths are in his role as a Sr. Systems & Network Architect. Perry worked for the Manitoba & Winnipeg governments, IBM, and a startup I.T. Consulting firm. He has been an independent I.T. Consultant. He is currently employed by Investors Group. Most of his I.T. career has been as a vendor / consultant called upon to solve complex business I.T. problems. Perry is also President of Freiling Innovations Inc. – a company that produces the SlabSetters hand tool. Receiving Canadian & U.S. patents, Perry took SlabSetters from a concept to store shelves in 12 months with only $15K capital. Perry is a passionate Digital Artist creating both 2D & 3D art and has started a new venture with his art (Mirage Of Art). Perry became a certified Manitoba nominee for the Manning Innovation award in 2006.

Mark Schollenberg

Commercial Account Manager at RBC

Mark Schollenberg is a Commercial Account Manager at RBC. Over the past five years, he has helped many entrepreneurs with advice on developing business plans, accessing various government support programs, and finding the right sources of financing.

Mark has a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from the University of Manitoba. He is also an active volunteer with United Way’s GenNext and the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation.

Blake Podaima

B.Sc (EE), M.Sc (CE), IPTCM

Blake Podaima is the Executive Director of the Internet Innovation Centre, at
the University of Manitoba, specializing in Information and Communications
Technologies (ITC), and eHealth

Joelle Foster

Joelle Foster is the Director for Manitoba, Nunavut, and the NWT for the Canadian Youth Business Foundation or CYBF. The University of Manitoba and RRC Business grad, joined the CYBF team in 2010. Since the office has opened Joelle has increased start-ups 300% over the previous years. Prior to that, she managed the Meyers Norris Penny Self-Employment Program and worked in Television at CTV for 8 years. In her different capacities, Joelle has successfully mentored and consulted over 360 businesses in Manitoba. Joelle currently sits on the board for the Winnipeg Entrepreneur eXchange. She is on the Financial Literacy Partnership Committee and is a member of the Steering Committee for Innovate Manitoba's Pitch Day and the Manitoba BOLD Action Team on Start-up Capital.

Andrew Buck

Andrew Buck is an associate at Pitblado Law, a leading business law firm in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Andrew has a broad business law practice. He helps clients find solutions at all stages of the business life cycle, with a focus on assisting start-ups and emerging for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. He also provides advice to content creators and content users about intellectual property control and capitalization. Andrew frequently gives presentations to emerging entrepreneurs about current copyright issues.

Adam Herstein

Adam Herstein is a partner at Pitblado Law, a leading business law firm in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Adam practices in the area of corporate commercial law with a particular emphasis on information technology and intellectual property law. In that capacity, Adam advises creators and users of technology with respect to its use, protection and commercialization. His clients include companies involved in internet marketing, search engine optimization, IT security, software development, website development, providers of technology services, videogame developers and many other creators of technology. A good part of Adam's practice also involves providing advice to business users of technology in industries such as financial services and health care. Adam was recently named to Best Lawyers in Canada for 2013 in the area of Information Technology Law. Adam is the chair of the Technology and Intellectual Property Law Section of the Manitoba Bar Association and a former director of IT.Can, the Canadian Technology Lawyers Association. Adam also writes and presents on technology and intellectual property law issues on a frequent basis.

Keith Maclaren

Tax Partner

Keith leads our (Deloitte) Prairie Region’s Global R&D and Government Incentives service line. He has over 9 years of experience identifying, preparing, and defending SR&ED tax credit and Government Grant applications. Keith also has 10 years’ experience working as a Software Engineer and Project Manager for several software companies. As Manitoba leader of our Technology, Media, and Telecommunications Industry Practice, Keith is instrumental in ensuring local companies are tied into the latest trends and opportunities. He has mentored startups preparing to pitch to investors at the Banff Venture Forum, and has helped companies go from working on an idea in their basement to commercial success.